Dimitar Berbatov, the former Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham striker, has revealed the name of the Premier League star who he considers to be his closest match in terms of ability.
Berbatov scored 94 goals in his eight-year spell in England, with his most prolific period being at United. He won the Golden Boot with 20 goals in the 2010/11 season, helping the club to secure a record-breaking 19th league title.
The Bulgarian striker was known for his skill and elegance on the pitch, and he thinks that one current Arsenal player shares some of his qualities as a player.
During his appearance on Astro SuperSport, a Malaysian TV channel that broadcasts the Premier League, Berbatov identified Kai Havertz as the player who resembles him the most in the current league.
“I don’t like comparing but, to answer the question, the first name popping into my mind is Kai Havertz,” Berbatov said.
“He has that way of moving around the pitch, he watches, he studies and takes his time.”
The Bulgarian Berbatov and the German Havertz both played for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany before joining the Premier League. However, Berbatov claimed that this was not the factor that influenced his choice.
During his three-year stint at Chelsea, Havertz was a vital player. He helped the Blues win the prestigious trophy by scoring the decisive goal in the 2021 Champions League final.
He joined Arsenal this summer in a shock move for £65 million. He has scored four goals in 17 appearances so far this season, as Mikel Arteta’s side aim to challenge for the Premier League title.
However, Havertz’s ability as a prolific goalscorer remains doubtful. He has not scored more than nine goals in any of his seasons in England’s top flight. He still has a long way to go to match Berbatov in that regard.